Some new finger food…

Hello, kiddies.

I’m glad you could drop by. Outside the weather’s frightful, but inside it’s so delightful and all that…

I said I was gonna do it, but real life issues and all… The new digs are temporary. I’m looking for a basic feel so expect to see the look change each time a new post appears. I’m at the point now where I’ll update when the feeling hits, and it may hit more than you think. Now you know I’ll be letting you know when the feeling hits, so keep your eyes peeled.

For being so patient with me, here’s a plate full of some nice 45 rpm goodness that I scored as Valentine’s day presents and on my most recent trip to the corner store. I got a mixed bag of stuff here, presented in various stages of quality. Some not so common, and others probably not so rare either. Just some damn fine treats that I’ve been nibbling on over the past couple of weeks. Pour yourself a hot cup of coffee (I am enjoying a little Grand Marnier myself), and maybe even a little botanical refreshment. Dig in.

Fufu Finger Food 

01 Deloris Is Back With Jerome And His Band-Deloris Ealy (ReJoint)
02 Do It Again-Deodato/Airto (CTI)
03 Everybody Wants To Be Free Pt. 1-Amnesty (Now Again)
04 a little bonus
05 Funky Jive-Soul Crusaders Orchestra-cr (More Soul)
06 Funky Thing Pt. 1-Larry Ellis And The Black Hammer (Funk 45)
07 another little bonus
08 Hi Heel Sneakers-Jose Feliciano (RCA Victor)
09 Hide Nor Hair-Earl Grant (Decca)
10 Hitchcock Railway-Jose Feliciano (RCA Victor)
11 Come Spy With Me-Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (Tamla)
12 Move On-Osibisa (Decca)
13 Silent Spring-Carmen McRae (Atlantic)
14 Slow Down-The Young Rascals (Atlantic)

15 Stop Talking To Your Child (Mother In Law)-James Duncan (King)
16 The Cat-Jimmy Smith (Verve)
17 Sho Is Funky-Hank Crawford (Kudu)
18 The Ghetto-Victor Green (ReJoint)

Please download and enjoy Fufu Finger Food, a zip file, 60 MB

I’ll be back, but in the meantime, have fun(k) and as always, be safe.

Peace and blessings.

Another Soapbox Moment…

Hello, kiddies.
Leslie and I just got back from hearing a very inspiring campaign speech today which prompts me to send this one out to those of you here in Maryland…

Please download and enjoy “Vote” as performed by Madhouse, an mp3 file 5 MB. If you are a Maryland resident, please go to the polls tomorrow. For those of you who are awaiting your chance to participate in the primary elections for your state, please remember this:

Peace and blessings.

…still dreaming

Hello, kiddies.

I should have had this one posted last week, but as today marks the twenty fifth year that the mighty Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday is clebrated as a national holiday, it warrants sharing yet another soapbox moment…

Please download and enjoy We Got A Chance To Be Free, an mp3 file, 4 MB

…and as a bonus (taking a page out of the HeavySoulBrutha’s playbook), I’ve added the B side simply because I’m happy to finally have this one in my crates. It only took three years to get it, but better late than never…

Please download and enjoy Speed Ticket, an mp3 file, 3 MB

Remember, we all can help to make the dream a reality… once and for all.

Peace and blessings.

Call it the year in review (including Up In Heah by Junior Wells and more)

Hello, kiddies.

I know I’ve really been lacking in my duties over here, but that is soon to change. With Twentyodd Eight right around the corner I am still busy as all getout, but I’m stoked about finally going on some much deserved digs. Yep, the train keeps on rolling!

Thanks to everyone who dropped by and to all the bloggers who gave me a link. I’ll be doing lots of new stuff around here real soon along with giving this place a facelift once and for all. Due to time never really being on my side as it were, it may take a little time to get things up to speed so I hope you all keep on hanging in there… In the meantime, here’s one of my very first Fufu Stew posts posts from January. It just so happens that I chose this one after having been invited to another one of those great parties…

 

Please download and ehjoy “Up In Heah”, an .mp3 file, 4 MB.

 

I also uploaded my set from the Asbury Park 45 Session that took place last month. I will admit that my record spinning skills only pale in comparison to those around me, but as one of my many resolutions for the new year, I plan to brush up a bit. It didn’t help that the cognac flowed like water. At any rate, with the exception of a bit of volume adjustment, here is the complete performance…

01 Soul Theme-King Curtis (Atco)
02 Tuck’s Theme-Bill Deal & The Rhondells (Heritage)
03 No Matter What Sign You Are-Diana Ross & The Supremes (Motown)
04 Fillet De Soul-The Flaming Ember (Hot Wax)
05 Here It Is-Dorothy Moore (Malaco)
06 Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On-Edwin Starr (Gordy)
07 The Funky Worm-Ohio Players (Westbound)
08 Chug Chug Chug A Lug (Push And Shove) Pt. 1-The Meters
09 It’s Your Thing-Dennis Coffey Trio (Maverick)
10 I’ve Got Just The Thing-Lou Courtney (Riverside)
11 Got Myself A Good Man-Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul)
12 Any Way You Wanna-Ramsey Lewis (Cadet)
13 My Love’s A Monster-Clea Bradford (Cadet)
14 Get It (Come On And Get It)-Jay Dee Bryant (Enjoy)
15 Shake And Fingerpop-Jr. Walker & The All Stars (Soul)
16 Oh Wow-Panic Buttons (Gamble)
17 Ack A Fool-The Sister And Grothers Feat. Sister Geri (Calla)
18 Get Into Something Pt. 2-The Isley Brothers (T Neck)
19 Blow Your Mind-Sound Experience (Philly Soulville)

Please download and enjoy Soul Chef Liveandirect at the Asbury Park 45 Sessions, an .mp3 file, 39 MB. Big big shouts to DJ Prestige and Bob Shannon for doing a tremendous job as the emcees, to JamNow for the audio and to all of the members of the Asbury Park team for making me feel at home when I come up to visit. I hope to see you all real soon.

Everyone have a happy and SAFE New Year.

Peace and blessings.

Digging in Leslie’s Crates part one (including Alice’s Restaurant Massacree)

Hello, kiddies.

 

Before I take off for the Thanksgiving festivities, I wanted to add just one more dish to the table. This one comes from the crates of my beloved Leslie, so allow me to let her take the floor (I mean “soapbox”)…

My sweet Vincent has posted this song for me, as it is not Thanksgiving for me without this song.  Arlo Guthrie, son of the great Woody (author of God Bless America), composed this song as a peace song.  It tells his story of a Thanksgiving long ago, when I was young.  There was a war going on then, much like today, and it deals with a young man’s thoughts of peace and war, life and death.  It is also a parody, never more so apropo than now.  A young man goes to a Thanksgiving feast with his friends, cooked by Alice.  In an effort of the communual spirit and as a gesture of thanks, he and a friend agree to get rid of the trash generated by this dinner.  The local dump is closed.  So they find a place, in a gully, that already has trash at the bottom, and decide to join their trash to this pile.  I know that in today’s time this is not ecologically correct, but this was then, and they did what they thought was right.  The local cops find this trash pile and he and his friend are arrested for littering and disturbing the peace.  Alice and their friends bail them out.  During this time, the young man is fearing that his draft number will come up, as he is no longer in school and eligible for a deferment (sound familiar, like our leaders?).  The young man and his friend go to trial, where the arresting officer has pictures of the trash pile, but the judge is (for real) blind. They plead guilty, are convicted and charged a fine of $50.00 and ordered to pick up the trash (which they do).  Next day, his draft letter comes, so he goes to the intake center and thru all the BS. When he gets to the psychiatrist to determine if he sane enough to go to war, he screams “I want to kill, I want to eat dead burnt bodies…” as a dodge to seem too deranged to be inducted.  It fails.  The Army welcomes him.  He is questioned about a criminal record.  He recounts the Thanksgiving story, and is sent to the “Group W” bench.  This bench is for “people who may be deemed not moral enough to join the army”.  An officer comes with forms, and they are filled out.  The last question is “Have you redeemed yourself enough to join the Army”.  The young man freaks and wants to know how they can ask how as a litterer, he has redeemed himself enough to kill.

Please download and enjoy Alice’s Restaurant Massacree, an mp3 file, 17 MB 

I know that Vincent did not create this blog to be political, but I am.  With what is currently going on in Iraq, the Middle East, Iran, and any other place GW wants to stick his nose, (and our soldiers) and with the Army lowering its standards to fulfill its quota, this song is still relevant today.  Maybe even more so.  I grew up with the “last war”, and I see no difference with the one today.  If a man who littered then is not moral enough to become a soldier, then how can someone who commited a real crime be eligible today?  I thank the men and women currently in Iraq and Afghanistan for their service, yet I hold the people above you responsible for the actions you are required to take.  Come home soon, whole and healthy.  And on this Thanksgiving Eve, I give thanks to all who both serve and protest. I hope that all of you who read my words and hear this song can enjoy them in the spirit that they are meant.  I wish all Peace, and a true Thanksgiving. 

Buy Alice’s Retaurant on CD or DVD at Amazon.com

I would also ask that those who are fortunate among us while giving thanks this season to help those who cannot help themselves. 

Thank you Leslie for joining in… I’ll be back soon with more nuggets from her crates.

Here’s your AntiDivas extras…

Hello, kiddies.

I hope you all are enjoying my extra special tribute post. I swear, every time I hear it, it brings a tear to my eye. Please understand, I’ve been a diehard fan since 1974, so hearing these songs means just a little bit more. Of course, there were a few that slipped me by so I put them here…

First, here’s a couple from Minnie’s first group, The Gems. She’s second from the left…

Please download and enjoy All Of It, an .mp3 file, 4 MB

Please download and enjoy Happy New Love, an .mp3 file, 4 MB

 

And as a bonus, I included Stevie Wonder’s impromptu performance from the Soul Train episode which yielded all the sound bites that I used in the mix… Thankfully, the sound quality is superb.

 

Please download and enjoy Perfect Angel and Lovin’ You, an .mp3 file, 3 MB. He admitted that he couldn’t hit the high note…

Now I know I said I was going to pull some joints from Leslie’s crates for the next post. I did, but I have yet to digitse them as it were. That will happen sooner than later, so y’all come back now, y’hear?

Peace and blessings.

The Queen Of Soul vs The Queen Of Jazz (?)

Hello, kiddies.

Glad you could stop by as I have a couple of really special goodies for you. Before the cognac totally impairs my brain, let me give you a quick back story on these two performances that I dug up from the back of the pantry this week. I’ll start with one of my all time favourite jazz singers, the one and only Lady Day.

This one is taken from an unknown date. Every time I go to the local drugstore or convenience store, I almost always manage to find a cheap CD of alleged bootleg performances from Billie Holiday. I have no idea who issued this particular one or if it is even still available, but for all intents and purposes, they are pretty much a dime a dozen so if you happen to stumble across one, check it out. Most of the time, the quality of the source material on these CDs is questionable at best. For the most part, there are usually a few tracks that make the CD well worth the price paid (this one only cost about $5 USD). Case in point with this selection here featuring a small combo of unknown musicians.

 

Please download and enjoy Fine And Mellow, an .mp3 file, 7 MB. (link removed…)

 

And for the next one, provided by the undisputed Queen of Soul, I unearthed a performance that was originally broadcast on VH-1 sometime back in 2000 as part of the VH-1 Divas series. This is most likely the only place you’ll ever hear this selection, that is unless you videotaped the broadcast which was actually pretty good, even with the appearance of such acts like Nelly Furtado and God forbid the Backstreet Boys. Anyway, I digress because what you are about to hear is a fitting tribute to some of the all time greats of the Jazz world. There was a rather impressive bunch of top quality musicians in this performance, such as Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Roy Haynes just to name a few. You’ve gotta dig on the Ella Fitzgerald references as there is a lively conversation in “scat” taking place between Ms. Franklin and Mr. Clark Terry. The performance is light hearted and whimsical, with some excellent chops to boot. It’s definitely one that’s worth checking out. And on the off chance that VH-1 ever airs this programme again (which I highly doubt), it’s definitely worth viewing.

Please download and enjoy An All Star Tribute To The Giants of Jazz, an .mp3 file, 8 MB. (link removed)

I hope you enjoyed this installment. The next one will be extra special as I take the time to share some of the rarities and underappreciated gems that are deep within Leslie’s crates. Even she is a fairweather cratedigger. Until then, enjoy your weekend and as always, be safe.

Peace and blessings.

Pass it over here (including The 8th Day)

Hello, kiddies.

Those of you who are up on your Holland Dozier and Holland trivia are well aware of their common practise of passing around the many classic tunes in their catalogue to many of the acts on the Motown roster back in the 60s. Such was also the case for their Invictus and Hot Wax imprints as this piece clearly demonstrates. The songwriting credits belonged primarily to the superb team of General Johnson, Greg Perry, Ronald Dunbar and Edythe Wayne in many and various forms.

Please download and enjoy the 8th Day’s reading of Heaven Is There To Guide us, an .mp3 file, 5 MB. This is just one of many fine tunes available on the import compilation “And On The 8th Day, God Created Soul”, which covers the bulk of their output for Invictus, including the smash “She’s Not Just Another Woman”.

More to come soon…

Peace and blessings.

One for the headz (including Above The Law)…

Hello, kiddies.

Here’s a quick post to demonstrate my love for the glory years of hip hop. I plan to dig into my not so vast collection and prepare a recipe of some of my faves in the near future. But for now, here’s one that I promised the HeavySoulBrutha I’d post last week in response to his first SoulSistas mix, which incidentally if you haven’t picked up on it yet, do yourself a favour and check it out.

Within that mix is one of my favourite 45s of all time, Erma Franklin’s reading of “Light My Fire”, which was sampled in good fashion by one of the unsung heroes of the then fledgeling West Coast hip hop scene, Above The Law. This is one of Dr. Dre and Eazy E’s first productions from 1990 for the legendary Ruthless label, and a fine production it was. I dug this one up from deep within the recesses of my old 12″ collection for you all to dig on. By the way, they also sampled The Funky Drummer in this track, but then again who didn’t back in the day…

Please download and enjoy Untouchable, an .mp3 file, 5 MB. This was the standout track from their debut LP “Livin’ Like Hustlers”.

That’s all for now, but I’m sure the feeling will hit once again, and I’ll have some more snax for you to consume real soon.

Peace and blessings.

Do It To Death, Bring It To Life…

Hello, kiddies.

In keeping with the tradition of featuring just a few of the tunes that either unfortunately didn’t make the cut on the latest recipe or were just too good to keep, I give to you a bit of just one of the many influences that made the mighty JBs one of the most beloved (and sampled) funk outfits of our generation. This was brought on by my most recent trip to Own Guru Records last week whaere I was fortunate enough to pick up two of the JB’s legendary LPs . If you don’t own these pieces of funk history, be sure to check out Dusty Groove. They are available but naturally they disappear quickly… What struck me the most was that the copy of “Doing It To Death” that I purchased was pressed on purple vinyl. I doubt that that makes the record a collector’s item (after all, it is a reissue), but as you may recall from one of my first posts here, I do have a soft spot for coloured vinyl and picture discs.

Here are a couple of the lesser played deep album cuts for your approval. I chose these tunes primarily because I love the frantic tempo as well as that great horn work.

 

Please download and enjoy Sucker, an .mp3 file, 8 MB from Doing It To Death

 

Please download and enjoy Step Child, an .mp3 file, 7MB from Breakin’ Bread

Now the number one reason for this post was to display yet another side from the legendary Curtis Ousley. Naturally I planned to buy  this one sight unseen, but when I played it for the first time, I noticed just how much this track and Doing It To Death have in common. It’s important to note that the King Curtis track predates the JBs by some seven years.

 

Please download and enjoy Soul Theme, an .mp3 file, 3 MB

That’s about all for this particular batch, but I do plan to be back sooner than later as the marathon recording session continues.

Peace and blessings.